It is Jill! At first I thought I'd bought a duffer, but when I got back in the evening and could see the pics properly I felt much happier. It's impossible to see what I'm doing when I'm in the water - I just aim in the general direction and hope, and I can't review the pics at the time because the sun is to bright. So phew!

I went to the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, which is the Hawaiʻi State Museum of Natural and Cultural History.

I'd been told an important feather cloak was on display having returned to Hawaii from New Zealand, that it contained feathers from now-extinct birds and that Hawaiians had queued to see it. So I was interested.

What I didn't know until I saw it was that it was the cloak given to Captain Cook by high chief Kalani'opuh'u.

Well I don't really know what happened, but I felt completely overwhelmed and just stood there and cried. I have a sense it's to do with HERE and THERE, THEN and NOW, childhood and adulthood, connection and journeys. Powerful stuff to reflect on.Read more

Yes - that's very well put Fliss - maybe.. across the water and across time...? Amazing how an object and a story can connect - this is one of my favourite photos and insights. Imagine what it must have been like to actually BE there, when it happened - the cloak giving and to have been presented with and worn it! Xx

It must have been a very powerful moment indeed. This cloak must have had great significance as an object - the time and care needed to make it, and as a symbol of power. Then a couple of months later everything went wrong - I'll know more when I visit the Captain Cook Monument on the west coast in a few days 😊

Waikiki isn't my kind of place - I don't need high-end shops - but I've found plenty to do and getting around has been easy on TheBus. I still haven't got a handle on being on the right side of the road (literally) for bus stops. Every journey is $2.50, no change given, unless ... well I don't know why, but once I was let off 50c because I only had $2 or a $5 note. Then once I was charged just $1, no idea why!

I did a minibus tour around O'ahu (this island) today. The stops at retail outlets were too long for me, but I did get to see the most beautiful and dramatic scenery, and once we were out of Honolulu/Waikiki the only busy places were a food stop, a macadamia nut producer (and shop), the Dole (pineapple) plantation and a small mall (icecream stop). So all-in-all a good day 😃Read more

Last stop in Hawaii - Oahu. Everyone told us, it is awfull, but so far, so good! Beaches, mountains, even the hike up Diamond head was amazing, and we finally tried shaved ice with rainbow taste, delicious treat!

Up early to pack and leave for Hawaii- 9.30am flight , caught up on a bit of sleep- will be nice to relax for a few days! Picked up a red mustang convertible at Honolulu ( and managed to fit all our luggage in it!) drove up to the north shore stopping at the local bar for a cocktail and coconut shrimp! Arrived at Turtle bay resort and checked in to a lovely ocean front room- scored an upgrade to a larger room with better view! Nice hotel - looking forward to exploring and swimming tomorrow. Watched the sunset go down and had a tasty meal before calling it a night- First one before midnight!
The north shore has a very relaxed laid back feeling- just what we need!Read more

After a nice sleep in we headed off in our red mustang to cruise around the north shore. Found some beautiful beaches and stopped off to see the turtles coming onto the shore for a rest. Had lunch at a cute little bar on the beach with a cocktail called BFRD- stands for big f... ing rum drink! Tasted great! Drove past waterfalls and Jurassic Park scenery- very picturesque. Called in to another nice bar on our way back for a cocktail before returning to our resort. Watched the sunset by the pool bar- Chris will be looking forward to the men getting here in a couple of days- I have got him drinking cocktails with me! Had quite a few maitais and stumbled to bed- forgot to have dinner! Lovely day on the north shore.Read more

I regret not giving myself more time here (I was up late and it closes at 4:30pm). The museum/art gallery seems beautifully curated so it's a joy to go around.

Because I only had a little time I concentrated on all things Hawaiian or Polynesian. Then I had a bit of spare time after tea and cookies (obviously), and discovered they had some Georgia O’Keefe Hawaiian works so rushed to see them. They also have an amazing collection of Monet's waterlilies, works by Gauguin, Lichtenstein, Picasso, Degas ... But I really enjoyed the O'Keefe's because I'd seen some of her work at MOMA in Brisbane, and it felt like there was a thread connecting now to then, running through this whole adventure 😎Read more